65Z01

Past time to do the front hoses.

How are Dura Last hoses for quality?

aklim

Duralast hoses are fine but I'd go SS Braided hoses.

FAUEE

Duralast will be fine. Lifetime warranty too. If you're not racing, you dont need stainless braided. The stainless is only for safety, the stiffness comes from the internal rubber hose. Most of the firmness people feel from SS lines is that they're nee, and also usually smaller ID.

WVZR-1

YEP!!

There's way more issues with the SS products on the market these days than any of the 'over the counter' OE equivalent available at most 'local' jobbers. He!! some SS don't even accommodate OE banjo bolts and hardware. Over the counter OE should also have the correct orientation for the frame brackets. There ain't none of the SS that have that. There should be LF, RF, LR & RR by part #.

If available from NAPA I might choose them.

paul1988

I put some AC delco professional on my 88. They look identical to the original I took off. Fitment was perfect.

aklim

I used THIS. Not sure but it seemed to fit without too much work.

81c3

Using SS brake lines on an older caliper has the potential to increase fluid pressure and force the fluid past the O ring seal on the pistons in the caliper. Just like anything else on a car, the brake hose is part of a system. IOW, changing part X, can affect part Y weather or not that was your intention. This is the reason for "while you're in there" syndrome..

aklim

Increase it or bring it to spec pressure? Still, I think stopping is critical so might as well bring the calipers to snuff

65Z01

Guys, thanks for the feedback and additional info.

Joe C

installed Goodridge SS lines on my 85 some 12-15 years ago. no installation issues, and overall, no issues to date. installed them with my original calipers. seem to recall, got the set on fleabay for $110. as a matter of fact, I've installed SS lines on three of the four C4's I've owned.

WVZR-1

Your experience 12 - 15 years ago I doubt is the experience with the product out there today. Most of the product out there today is 'an APPEARANCE option'!! OE equivalent from most any 'local' jobber is very consistent. The frame end of all OE are 'indexed' to the frame bracket. I ain't seen SS yet with indexing..

Joe C

trying to jog my memory - don't remember much about indexing, but i'm thinking it was just a flat on the hole in the bracket that orients the brake lines to the bracket. the flat in the bracket, i'm thinking, is nothing more than an OE production aid. not sure indexing is really necessary for replacement hose assemblies. there is a spring clip the rests in a groove on the stainless end that secures the line junction to the frame bracket (bottom side). as far as todays products, here's the last set I installed on my (white) 90 - about 3-4 years ago - it's the same set installed on my steel blue 90 about 10 years ago. honestly, don't remember having any problems with installation and no issues with indexing or fitment. I really don't think this is an "APPEARANCE option" -




https://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A3671A0A0.aspx

edit: just checked the original OE hoses on my (steel blue) 90. three of the four are indexed with two keyways (different sizes, about 120° apart). the fourth hose has a different index - one side of the hex is rounded and looks like it was designed for a different type of bracket. the three keyway indexing have date codes -two with 5/90 and one with 04/02/90. the oddball indexing is date coded 10/19/89. I can't swear that these were original to the car, but they may have come from different suppliers - ????

WVZR-1

^^^^^ Another 'PRETTY PICTURE' - Who knows? Most of the current offerings ain't that pretty! The link is an add since the 'image' and I chose only a '93 Corvette @ random. $199 I'd expect quality. For a 'driver' I'll still argue 'overkill' for these and for the rest of the market. I wouldn't touch them. BRANDING gets you 'we believe reasonable assurance of quality'!!

I decision for each and every potential 'customer'!!

NUFF SAID!!

vette196

$199 is almost twice as much as the others I've seen (around $110). What is so special about the Goodrich brand?

81c3

Theres really no reason other than appearance for using SS brake lines on a street car...

Joe C

, however it doesn't hurt anything either. most of us have installed components that were either overkill or something that was for just "appearance" on their corvette?

I guess if I stated in my original post, the negative aspects of SS lines and it's installation, or hammered the Goodridge brand in general, I would have the exact same folks arguing that point with me.

aklim

What appearance? I can't see my hoses and probably won't look at them more than once every 2 years when I bleed the brakes.

81c3

Dont know about your C4, but when I open the clam shell on mine, you can see the brake hoses and pretty much everything else on the suspension...

aklim

You got me there. I open the hood for maintenance and when I do, I go straight for the item or a look see for any issue. Not sure if I every was titillated by the hoses or anything there.

81c3

I would agree to a certain extent. You, me and many others make sure our C4 is in tip top running condition, especially where safety is concerned. That said, the kid who just bought his 130k mile 30 year old C4 sees some nice shiny SS brake lines thinks oh man, Ill be able to brake like an F1 car with those things.... What he doesn't remember or know, is that the 130k mile 30 year old caliper seals are marginal at best. So to aklims point, now the proper pressure is restored... the possibility of a seal failure does exist... maybe not catastrophic or instant failure, but a seep might start... never can tell... Thats all I was getting around to... In my mind, if you replace one part of a system, then you should really look hard at the other parts of that system and make a good educated guess on what might need replacement in addition.... I guess thats just me though...